Turmeric, and its active ingredient curcumin, may have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and other benefits.
So, first of all, what is turmeric or curcumin?
Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow colour.
It has been used in India for thousands of years as both a spice and medicinal herb.
Recently, science has started to back up traditional claims that turmeric contains compounds with medicinal properties.
These compounds are called curcuminoids. The most important one is curcumin.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.
Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory compound
Inflammation is incredibly important. It helps fight foreign invaders and has a role in repairing damage in your body.
Although acute, short-term inflammation is beneficial, it can be a concern if it becomes chronic and attacks your body’s own tissues.
The curcumin in turmeric has proven, strong anti-inflammatory properties that block the action of inflammatory molecules in the body. Studies show positive effects of curcumin on people suffering from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, amongst others.
Reference list
Gunnars, K. (2021). 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4.
https://www.facebook.com/WebMD (2018). Slideshow: Health Benefits of Turmeric. [online] WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-turmeric.
longa, C. (2020). Turmeric Information | Mount Sinai - New York. [online] Mount Sinai Health System. Available at: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/turmeric.
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